Method and apparatus for detecting defects in filled cans



Jan. 18, 1944. v

R. o. HENSZEY ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLEDCANS Filed May 2'7, 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet l a O l/erwz A 18, 1944. R o.H'ENSZEY ET AL 2,339,633

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 2?,1959 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 i3 Oilerwzg "P4116 5972122 6 7 ATTORNEY Jan. 18,1944. R. o. HENSZEY ETAL 2,339,633

- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May27, 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet s 6 1+ fl INVENTORS, a5 Q? ay -w J QMZ J/rzart18,1944- R. o. HENSZEY Em 2,339,6 8

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 27,1959 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 0 bIINVENTORS l awi 577807 1 @/m ATTQRNEYS.

1m 18,1944. R. o. HENSZEY Em 2339.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 27-,1939 15 Sheets-She et 5 INVENTOM dj/erzdze 5M Z ATTORNEY',

4- R. o. HEINSZEY ET AL 2,339,638

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 27;1959 15 Sheets-Sheet e INVENTORS. .Egy Qflewze B jazz! 527207 8 1 4 mATTORNEY-S.

Jan. '18, 1944. R. o. HENSZEYEET AL 2,339,633

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED GA NS Filed May 27,1939 IS Sheet s-Shut 7 w .g iiii 5mm? ATTOENEYfi INVENTOKQ v 1944. R. o.HENSZEY ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 2'7, 1959 1%.55 M .156 T 3 :JM

F v I Jam 18,

33a 5738 1' J y 1w E2353 4 L A z 6 J74 INVENTORS' E E0 Ol/eras'ze J &

J m 1944- R. o. HENSZEY ETAL 2, 3 Y

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 27,1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 )VENTORLE 'emsze PM A TTORNEY Jan. 18, 1944. R.o. HENSZEY ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLEDCANS Filed ma 27, 1959 1s Sheets-Sheet 1O 1w 1 R. o. I-JENSZEYET AL 2,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 27,1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 N E5754- a 103 105.235

10Z Z Z i .l v I INVENTORfi emsze {PM 'mfg' @0/1/ ATTORNEYf Y Jan. 18,1944. R. o. HENSZEY ETAL 2,339,633

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 2'7,1939 15 Shee ts-Shee t l2 D p. 5. 5. W n H wmlkl lllli M I mum wmm wmw MM 3% & mm. OPMM FM my m/ J m. 18, 1944. o. HENSZEY ET AL 2,339,638

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS Filed May 2'7,1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 0 1i M 0! 0 M INVENTORJ 1944- R. c. HENSZEY ETAL 2,339,638

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS.

Filed may 27, 1959 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 w, 1 E WWW lNVENTOR-S erwze FiledMay 27. 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 1s Jan. 18, 1944. R. o. HENSZEY ET ALMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN FILLED CANS M lllll ull lu h awl hw hl u l nlflflun ll. 9@ v Www wbw .SW MG. mm

Pas ed Jan. 18.19 44 2,339,638 METHOD-ANDAPPARATUS FOB. nn'rno'rmo ipnracrsmmmncsns' W Roy 0. Henszcy-and' Paul Smart, Oconomowoo,

. Wis., assignors to C The present invention relates to a method andapparatus for detecting defects in filled cans, and particularly fordetecting defects in cans filled withliquid. f r 4 An object of theinvention is to 'provide'a method and apparatus for detecting mashedcans or calls which are longerthiln normal; for detecting bloated cansor cans having. an abnormal Q i; "fllN-iren STATEs A iT O F amationCompany, Oconomo\9oe, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application May2.7. 1939. Serial No. zlaoso 45 Claims.' '(Ci. 209-75) 5 V automaticallyoperable to render themachineoperative or inoperative in accordancewiththe accompanyingdrawingswherein machin'e em.

internal pressure as evidenced-by an inwardly or outwardly-bowed end;for detecting cans 'in' which the viscosity of the contents is greateror 1 less than normal; fordetectingfllled cans which are below normalweight; and for -accomplishg ing'these testing functions ina'fgiven'seq'uence to insure themaldmum'efliciency in the performonce ofeach function.

Another object of the'invention is to provide testing means fordetecting mashed cans or cans which are of greater length than normal bya simple and efiiciently operating-mechanism, and to provide, inco-operation with such means,

means for feeding cans thereto in a made rd mined position whilepreventing the feeding thereto of cans not soiposltioned.

- A further object of the invention is to 'provide a method or means fordetecting filled cans in which the internal pressure is above or belownormal, in which the apparatus is simple and inexpensive inconstruction, efllcient in operation,

and whereinthere is provided means for sorting cans according to thecontour thereof. preferably according to the contour of an end or endsthereof.

Applicants invention further contemplates the provision of a method andapparatus for measuring the viscosity of the contents of a filled canand for rejecting cans in which the contents is above or below thenormal viscosity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor. testing the weight of filled cans andfor rejecting such filledcalls which diflfer in weight from the normal weight.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means operated byan accumulation of cans in the machine for rendering the machine. orselected parts of the machine which-might be damaged as a result of theaccumulation, inoperative, and an ancillary obiect'of the invention isto provide means for rendering the "machine operative or inoperative inaccordance with the feeding or non-feeding of cans to be tested throughthe machine.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine fortesting tilled cans wherein there is provided can directingor feedingmeans presence or absence of cans in the machine.'!

Other and further obiects' an'd advantages or the invention will beapparent from the following h we description when taken in connectiontrolling the operation of the machine:

Fig.8 is a view in perspective of the machln controlling portion of thetrack;

Fig. I is a fragmentary view in elevation of the track portion shown inFig.

. Figs. 8 and 9 are views in section taken along the line 8-4015 Fig. 7for illustrating certainfeatures of the operation of the mechanism shownin Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 iii a longitudinal section taken substan tially along the lineIll-Ill of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is 'a fragmentary substantially verticalsection taken along theline H-il of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary substantially vertical section taken along theline i2-l2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentarvlonzitudinal section taken along the line l3-l3of Fig. 4;

Fig. 14 is an exploded view in perspective of v the contour testinglnstrumentaiity;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view in perspective of a can guiding meansforming part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary substantially vertical I section taken alongthe line ll-IO of Fig. 3;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of themechanism shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a fragmentary substantiallyvertical section taken along the line i8-l8 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view in' elevation taken from the lefthand sideof the mechanism shown in Fig. 16: V

Fig. 20 is a view in elevation "of a portion of the mechanism shown inFig. 19. showing certain elements thereof in a different position ofoperation;

Fig. 21 is a view in section taken along the. line 2l-2I of Fig. 19;

-plan view of: :3

of a portion pf in perspective ofa part-oi the can feeding trackincluding a portion for con Fig. 22 is a view in section taken along theline 2222 of Fi 19;

Figs. 23 and 24 are views in perspective of certain switch operatingmembers forming parts of the mechanism shown in Figs. 13 to 22;

Figs. 25 and 26 are sections taken along the lines 25-45 and ze-zs ofFig. 27, illustrating the operation of the contour measuring means; Fig.27 is an enlarged substantially vertical section taken along the line21-21 of Fig. 13 with certain parts omitted for purposes of clarity inillustration; I

Figs. 28 and 29 are views of a portion of Fig. 27 but with the parts indifferent positions of operation:

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the can directing andrejecting means controlled by the contour measuring mechanism of I Figs.13 to 29;,

Fig. 31 is a view in substantially vertical section taken along theline3i-3i of Fig. 30:

Fig. 32 is a view in longitudinal section through the viscosity tester,taken substantially along the line 32-32 of Fig.4;

Fig. 33 is a view in section talren along the line Fig. 34 is a view insection taken along the line 34-44 of Fi 32:

Figs. 35'. and 36 are fragmentary views in elevation and partly'insection illustrating the operation of certain switches in accordancewith.

the viscosity of the can contents;

Fig. 371s a fragmentary view in perspective and partly in sectionshowing the manner -'in which one of these switches is mounted foroperation by the can;

Fig. 38 is a fragmentary view in elevation showinga can feeding andrejecting means controlled by the viscosity tester shown in Figs. 32 to37; i i

Fig. 39 is a section taken along the line 39-43 Fig. 42 is a plan viewof the weight tester and,

inspection table. as .well as the means for feeding the cans to and fromthe tester from the inspection table;

Fig. 43 is a plan section of a supporting track forming part of theweight tester;

Fig. 44 is a view in perspective of the track shown in Fig. 43;

Fig. 45 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 45-45of Fig. 42; r

Fig. 46 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 48-43 ofFig. 45;

Fig. 47 isa fragmentary vertical section taken along the line '41-" ofFig. 45;

Fig. 48 is a plan view of the inspection table forming part of thepresent invention;

Fig. 49 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 48-48 ofFig. 48; and

Fig. 50 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit for the machineshown in Figs. 1 to 49.

As shown in the drawings, a machine for testing filled cans inaccordance with the invention embodies a can receiving and conveyingmeans presence or absence of cans to be tested, size testing mechanism6, pressure testing mechanism 8.

can directing or rejecting means i0 controlled by the pressure testingmechanism 8, viscosity or fluid friction testing mechanism l2, candirect ing or rejecting mechanism ll controlled by'the viscosity orfluid friction testing mechanism II, weight testing mechanism' I6,including means for rejecting filled cans of improper weight. an

inspection table I8, including means for controlling the machine, orcertain parts thereof, in

response to the accumulation of cans on the in-' spection tab1e,'canfeeding and discharge mech-- anism 20 which may. if desired, be used toconvey the filled cans meeting the various tests to label-applying andpackaging machines. Each of the can directing or rejecting means, when Ioperated to direct or reject an abnormal can, of course, indicates thepresence of such abnormal.

can

The various testingmechanisms are preferably arranged in the order orsequence shown in Fig. 1 for a number of reasons, chiefly as follows:The size testing mechanism 6, which eliminates mashed cans or cans whichare longer than' would jam or impair the accuracy of the-pres-'sure-testing mechanism 8. the viscosity or fluid friction mechanism I2,and the weight testing, I mechanism it. The cans are nexttestcd by the 11 pressure testing mechanism! to'detect and 0011! trol the rejection ofbloated cans in which the pressure is above normal and alsocans'inwhichthe pressure is belownormal. This test preferably followsthe elimination of long or mashed cans because the presence of suchcansin the pressure testing mechanism would interfere with its operationor impair its accuracy, andflner work may be done if only cans of theproper length are fed to the station for the testing of the pressurethereof. It is necessary in order to obtain smooth operation of thepressure testing mechanism that it operate only when cans are availablefor testing. and since the structure of the size testing mechanism issuch as to make it convenient and economical to associate the controlmechanism 4 with. the inlet to the size testing mechanism, the pressuretesting mechanism preferably follows immediately after the size testingmechanism. 'The cans passing the size and pressure tests are then testedfor viscosity, and'this test preferably follows the other tests for theaccuracy of the viscosity test is improved by eliminating prior theretoall oversize cans and cans of abnormal pressure, and also because longor mashed cans and bloated cans would tend to jam in the viscositytesting mechanism- It is also essential for the proper operation of theviscosity testing mechanism that the cans to be tested be delivered tothe testing mechanism in spaced succession and since, as will laterappear, the pressure testing mechanism dis-- charges the tested cans inspaced succession, the

viscosity testing mechanism conveniently folfacilitating a checking ofthe operation of the machine and because the prior elimination of thecans which are abnormal in size, pressure, viscosity or weight rendersany defects, such as .could otherwise be satisfactorily employed andbecause it has been found most convenient and ment by collars 64. Therails 52 are spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 8, a distance slightly lessthan the axial length of the can 24 between the top dirty or rusty cansor cans defective-in some other unusual way, more conspicuous.

The can receiving and conveying means This can receiving and conveyingmeans preferably comprises an elevator 22 receiving at its lower end asupply of filled cans 24 on an inclined table 26 from a fllling-or'processing apparatus or from another testing machine, such as thepellet detecting machine shown in Henszey et al. Patent No. 2,112,621.The elevator 22 preferably comprises a track 28 and a continuousconveyor 30 passing about pulleys or sprockets 32 and 34, one of whichmay be used to drive the conveyor while the other is merely an idler.The-elevator 22 discharges the cans at the top of the track 28 intogravity feed means 36, which may be of any conventional construction,for feeding .the cans at the proper speed to the control mechanism-4,

and bottom rims 8G and, as shown in Fig. 9. a distance greaterthan thediameter of the can and the diameter of the top and bottom rims 66 sothat a can having its axis extending horizontally may roll along therails 52, but an endwise can having its axis extending vertically willdrop between the rails 52. Inclined angle bars 68 are secured at theirupper ends to the uprights 38 or to the track members 44 and extendbelow the rails 52 to receive therefrom the endwise cans and direct thesame to a point of discharge or a receptacle from which the cans may betaken and placed on the plate 26. The inwardly directed bottom flangesof the tracks 44 are cut away to receive the outer end portions of therails 52 of the balanced track, these rails lying inwardly-of the planeof the upstanding flanges of the tracks 44, with the upper edges oftheralls lying in the plane and constituting extensions of the inwardlydirected flanges of these tracks so that the cans 1 will roll smoothlyunder the action of gravity which renders the pressure testing mechanism8 I operative when cans are available for testing and renders itinoperative when cans are not available for testing, and .which alsorejects, cans, which are improperly'positioned for-feeding into I thesize testing mechanism.

Control mechanism responsive to the presence or absence of canstobefested This control mechanism 4; as best shown in Figs. 5 to 11, ispreferably supported or carried by a pair of spaced upright framemembers 28 welded or otherwise secured at their ends to the horizontallyspaced inclined main frame members 40,

from the tracks 44 onto and along the rails 52 to the 'size testingmechanism 6. The balanced track 50 includes means for urging the rails52 in an upward direction, and this means comprises a coil spring 10interposed between the lower surface of the bracket 58 and an adjustablenut 12 on a screw 14 secured to thelower spacing bar 42, as by the headof the screw and a'locking nut 18. The'screw 14 also provides adjustablestop I means for engaging the bracket 58 to limit thedownward'deflection of the balanced track rails- 52. 'The rails 52 ofthebalanced track Eli are pushed upward by the spring Ill and held downwardby the weight of the cans. When the baranced track is about half full'ofcans it is pushed downward by the weight thereof to its normal position,in which position it acts through an adjusta-ble screw 18 carried by alaterally projecting lug 80 on the bracket 68 to hold a circuit makerthe upright frame members 38 held in spaced relation by reinforcingangle members or bars 42. Inclined can supporting and guiding tracks 44of substantially L-shape in cross section at their outer ends arefastened to the inner surfaces of the upright frame members 38, theupstanding flanges of these L-shaped track members being spaced apart adistance somewhat greater than the axial'length of the usual cans so asto permit long, mashed or bloated cans to pass therealong with nojamming. The tracks at their outer ends support a box-like frame 46 intowhich extends the lower end of the gravity feed means 36, and extendingbetween the upper I transverse portion of this frame 46 and the upperspacing bar 42 are a pair of spaced rails 48 spaced from the inwardlydirected flanges of the tracks 44 a distance somewhat greater than thediameter of the cans 24, and acting to insure proper positioning androlling of the cans along the tracks 44 and preventing the cans fromjump-- ing this track or the balanced track 50.

The balanced track 50 comprises a pair of spaced rails 52 having bevelededges 54 at one end and secured at their opposite ends to the spacedarms 56 of a mounting bracket 58 having an integral apertured boss Iiiextending between the spaced arms 58 and secured to a shaft or rod 82ioumaled at its opposite ends in the upright frame members 38 and heldagainst axial moveand breaker 82 of the microswitch type in open circuitposition.

The-microswitch 82 is moved by the resiliency of its contact and by anauxiliary spring into a circuit closing position when the balanced trackunder the action of the spring Ill moves upwardly, the track being lessthan half full-of cans. The microswitch 82 controls, in a manner laterto'be described; the operation of the pressure testing mechanism 8to'render the same inoperative when there is an insuflicient number ofcans available to warrant testing thereof, and to render'it operativewhen a sufficient number of cans'are available for testing and arepositioned 'on the balanced track 50.

Size testing mechanism Mashed cans usually have some portion of one endbulged or bent outward, thus increasing the over-all can length. Thesize testing mechanism now to be described therefore provides means fordetecting such mashed cans and reieeting same. as well as detecting andrejecting V cans which in the process of manufacture may have exceededthe normal can length. Also, those bloated cans in which an end or endsare tened, at their lower ends to the longitudinal mainframe members 40.Each disk 84 has an I 2,339,638 standing brackets 92 welded, orotherwise fasoutwardly flaring annular portion 84 which extendsinwardlyfrom the periphery of the disk, and

the remaining portion 06 of the inner surface of each disk constitutes aplane surface substanmalendcontour. The means for testing'thecontour' ofthe end .or. ends of the can preferably comprises in the 11 in otherparticulars, as

lu'strative embodiment (Figs. 3 and 13 to 29)-'a evidenced by theirabnoram" wheel m providing e pluralitygof angu vlarly spaced pockets II6 for successively receiving tiallyparallel to the like plane surfaceof the other disk. The plane surfaces 86 of the disks are spaced apartsuilicientlyto permit a can of normal overall length to passtherebetween, but cans which are of greaterover-all length will beengaged by the annular outwardly flaring portions 84 of the disks andwill be carried upwardly with the disks as they rotate about the axis ofthe shaft 88 and deposited on an inclined track 88 which is providedwith can supporting bottom rails I which project into the spacehetween'the disks 84: and side rails I02 which retain the cans on therails I00 after they have rolled out of the disks 84. The track 88 maybe supported on the longitudinal main frame mem bers 40 inany convenientand desired manner.

as, for example, by the spaced upright framemembers-I04. Iidesired,-,the track 08 may be used'to convey the cans abnormal in sizeto a the cans to be tested from the rails I06, and for conve i the cansin 'succession'between spaced 5 end contour measuring and controllingdevices hub portion,l22, Fig. 16, and axially spaced, re-

suitable receptacle, or the track may itself be usedras a temporarystorage place. When so' used, the track preferably extends throughoutthe length of the machine, as shown in-Figs l and3,=to provides, maximumof such space.

The rails-52 of the balanced track 50 extend intoa space between thedisks 84, with their upper edges lying above the parallel plane whichipasses through the axis of the shaft 88, and these rails 52 terminate attheir inner beveled edges 64 within. the plane surfaces 96 of the disks84 and adjacent to the outer end of laterally spaced rails I06. Therails I06 extend forwardly in the same Plane as the rails 52 and carrythe cansof normal size from the size testing mechanism 6 to thepressuretesting mechanism 8.

The rails- I06 formparts of a can supporting and feed track which,between the size testing mechanism 8 and the pressure testing mecha-'disks 84 of the size testing mechanism may be,

continuously driven by means of a V belt H0 and a pulley II2 secured toone end of the shaft 88.

Pressure testing mechanism Filled cans in which the internal pressure isabove normal are recognizable by the outwardly bloated end or ends ofthe can, and filled cans in which the internal pressure is below normalare recognizable by the inwardly bowed end or ends. Therefore, filledcans in which the contents is at an abnormal pressure may be detected bya testing of the contour of an end or ends of the can. Mashed cans alsomay have one or both of their ends bowed inwardly or outwardly, and,hence, s'uch mashed cans as pass through the size testing mechanism 6may be detected as well as the cans of abnormal pressure by meanstesting the contour of an end or ends of such cans.

The pressure testing mechanism 8 accordingly provides means for testingthe end contour of the cans and means for controlling can directing orrejecting means I0, whereby to reject filled cans of abnormal internalpressure and cans defective dially projecting arms I24 in which areprovided the pockets II6, the pockets II6 being so formed as to providea concave surface I26, Fig. 13, engaging a substantial portion of theperiphery of the can, and an outer convex portion I28 merging with theconcave portion whereby to facilitate the rolling of the cans into thepockets for testing thereof-and out .of'the pockets after they 1.,

have been tested. The ,star" wheel is secured at its central hub portionI22 to a shaft I30 Jour-- naled in bearing blocks I32 carried by thespaced upstanding arms I34 of a bracket I36 secured at its lower enditothe longitudinal -mainjframe member or members 40. The shaft I is drivenby the V belt I I0 through the. intermediacy of a 7 pulley I38 and aclutch mechanism i40 subsequently-tobe described;

H8 and I20 and onto the candirecting or reject- .ingmeansI0.'-' Thewheel II4 preferably comprises a central Cans are retained within thefstar wheel as.

ing their movement between the contour testing devicesI I8 andI20bymeans*of'guidezbars fl42,

Figs. 13 and 15, having semi-circular portions I44 overlying the path ofmovement of the cans-be- I50 being secured to the arms I34 and I86 ofthe" bracket which supports the shaft I80, and being provided withopenings through which said shaft passes, as seen in Fig. 16. A leafspring I52, ex-

tending between and parallelto the guide bars I42, is secured to saidbars asby the cross strap I54, Fig. 15, and extends in a position tooverlie and frictionally contact a cam during the testing of its endcontour so as to prevent the can from shifting in its pocket I I6 duringthis testing operation.

The end contour testing device I I8 preferably I comprises a pluralityof vertically spaced bars or straps I56, I58, I60, each clamped at oneEnd to and between spaced plates I62 which may be secured to the sidebars I08 or formed integrally therewith, the bars I56, I58, I60 beingfastened to the plates I62 in any convenient manner, as,

for example, by' rivets, bolts or the like I64. The upper and lower barsI 56 and I60 are joined by an electrically conducting strap I66 andelectrically insulating straps I68 and I10. The plates I62 to which thebars I56 and I60 are fastened by the bolts I64 are preferably ofelectrical insulating material, although if they be of metal, the barsI56 and. I60 and the bolts I64 may be insulated from such metal plates.Electric connection is made to the bars I56 and I60 through one of thebolts I64 associated therewith,and both bars are maintained at the sameelectrical tension by means of the electrically conducting,inter-connecting strap I66.

The strap I66 carries a generally U-shapcd' and I60 are so spaced inrelation to each other a conducting strap 2I2 and electricallyinsulatearrylng anadjustableelectric contact I16 in. alinement with-alike adjustable electric contact I18 carried by the strap I,88., f Thebar I88 terminates at its free end inwardly of the straps I88, I88,l10,and carries at its outer 5' end anxL-shaped piece or portion l18having a 1 forwardly projecting arm I80 forming anelectric contactextending between the contacts I16 and I18 and adapted, upon fiexure ofthe bar-I88 relativeto the bars I88 and I60, to engage one or 1.0 theother of these contacts I18 and -I16.- The, bar I88 is secured similarlyto the bars I88 and I80, as previously described, between the insulatingplates I82 although, if these plates be of metal, the bar and itsclamping bolt I86 may be insulated therefrom. The electrical connection,is made to the bar,i88 through its clamping bolt I86. 7 v

The bars I88, I58 and' I80 are provided with similar can feelers I82,I86, I88, the feelers I82 20 pairs of insulating blocks I80 and I82,Each of the feelers I82, I86 and I88 is provided with a *can engagingcam surface I86 extending into the path of movement of an end edge ofthecan and at an angle to-such path of. movement sons. to engage and bemoved outwardlyfbylthe end of I the can. as shown in Figs. 25 and 26,thereby flex- 1 ing the bars I88, I88 and I80, the feelers [82,186 andI88 projecting through openings I98, I88 .and, 200 in the adjacent plateI80, The bars,,I8 8,"I88

and in relation to a can in a pocket I I8 .of the "star" wheel II6 thatthe'feelers I82 and I88 ride on the rim of the canjwhile the feeler I86rides.

on some ilat portion of the can near the center of theean end. Thecontacts I16 and I18 are 40 so adjusted in relation to the contact I80that there is no electrical contact on normal. cans, but a can .in whichthe end is bowed or outwardly bent beyond a limit of tolerance, whichmay be a few thousandths' of an inch, will fleig the bar I88 a greatervor lesser amount relative to the bars I86 and I80, and contact I80 willthereupon engage either the contact I16 orv the contact I18, d pendingupon whether the end of the can is bowed 7 outwardly or inwardly The endcontourv testing device I28 for the other ends of the cans is similar insubstantially all respects to the end contour testing device H8, andcomprise resilient bars or straps 202, 206 and 208 each mounted at oneend between a pair of insulating plates 208 by means of bolts 2I0through which electrical connection may be made to one of the outer barsand to the central bar.

The outer bars are joined at their free ends by ing straps 216 and 2I8.The bars-are provided with can engaging feelers 2I8, 220 and 222,similar to the feelers I82, I86 and I86, and similarly mounted on theirrespective bars. The strap 2 I2 carries a metal frame 226 similar to theframe I12 and provided with an adjustable contact 226 alined with anadjustable contact 228 carried by the strap 2I2. The bar 206 terminatesinwardly of the strap 2I2 and carries an L-shaped piece or portion 280providing a forwardly projecting electrical contact 282 extendingbetween the contacts 226 and 228, and is similar in all respects to thecontact I80. The feelers H8 and 222, like the feelers I82 and I88, rideon the rim of the can but at the opposite end thereof, while the feeler220 carried by the central bar 206 rides near the can center on somefiat portion of the can end. It will be noted that the central bar" I88of the end contour testing device II8 lies substantially centrallybetween the bars I88 and I80," while the central bar 206 of the contourtesting device I20 lies nearer the lower bar 208 than the upper bar 202.The reason for this diflerence in spacing is that'the two ends of a canare of different shape, and therefore it is necessary to so place thebars'that their feelers I86'and' 220 will atthe same instant ride onflat portions of the can;'which ilat portions are differently located 7on the two ends.

Since the endrims of the cans are not rectangular. but circular, andsince the ends of the cans are not plane surfaces but compriseconcentric, annular, relatively raised. and recessed por'-' tions, meansmust be provided for energizing the contacts controlled by the feelersfor only a short time a'nd preferably while the outer feeler of each setengage the rim of the can at opposite ends of a diameter thereof andwhen the central feeler of each'set engages some flat portion of anormal can end. This is accomplished by a timing and control deviceormeans 286, Figs. 16 to 24, which comprises a drum-like member 288 keyedto one end of the shaft I80, provided in its rim 288 with a plurality'ofpairs of radiallyalined V openings 260 and 262 slidably receivingradially shiftable pins 266. Allof'the pins 266 lie inthe .same planeperpendicular to the'axis of the shaft I80. The pins of onejpair areconnected'by a' ,co-pl'anar' extension 268, which'may integrally jointhe two pins in this pain The other two pairs of pins-are connectedtogetherby right] .and left generally U-shaped yoke members 268encompassing the connection extension 268 for i the first pair of pins.vEach pair of pins is adapted to assume three positions: first, a neutralposition in which both pins of the pair project equally beyond theperiphery of the rim 288 of the drum;

' second, a first active position in which one pin of the pair liesflush with the periphery of the rim 288 while the other pin of the pairprojects a greater than normal distance beyond the periphery of thedrum; and, third, a second aibiveposition in which the end of the lastmentioned pin 4 of the pair lies substantially flush with the rim 288while the other pin projects beyond the rim these. three positions.

This means comprises a spring urged ball or roller no mounted with itsspring 282 in an axially extending opening in the rim 288 and adapted toengage in any one of the three spaced annular grooves 286 or one pin 266of each pair of pins; The spring nd hell are retained in their openingby a cover plate 288 fastened to the innor face of t e d The pins 266successively actuate a mi r tch 288 through a lever 280 and anadjustable set screw 282 carried at the free end of the lever andadapted, upon operation of'the lever 280, to engage and press the switchoperating leaf spring 286. The lever 280 is pivoted to a pin or stud 288carried by a moimting plate or bracket 288, and the lever carriesintermediate its ends a cam lug 210 adapted upon rotation of the drum288 to be engaged successively by'the pins 266, thereby depressing theswitch operating lever to actuate the switch 288 to a circuit closingposition. The drum 288 is positioned on the shaft I in such

